PCs
The World's Largest Software Company Wants More Hardware
Microsoft is no longer willing to simply put out the software and establish the ecosystems for the benefit of its longtime hardware partners. The company wants some more skin in the hardware game.
Kiss Your PC Goodbye
Your desktop -- and maybe even the shiny new laptop that you bought a few months ago -- are dinosaurs. The "good enough" computing revolution that has nudged consumers-on-the-go toward smartphones and tablets is taking its toll on the box business.
PC Upgrades on Byte-Size Budgets -- Savings Experiment
Experts offer low-cost alternatives for upgrading your PC.
Tablets and Smartphones Slow Laptop Sales Growth
Gartner has lowered its laptop-sales forecast for this year and the next, predicting that the popularity of tablets and smartphones will slow laptop sales. Gartner expects worldwide laptop sales to increase 11% this year and and 14% next year, down from a previously forecast 16$ and 15%, respectively.
Intel: Streaming High-Def Movies -- Without Pirates
Aiming to ease a major concern among Hollywood studios, Intel is set to introduce new chips that will have antipiracy measures built in. This will allow the streaming of top-quality 1080p movie images to PCs, something pretty much not possible up to now.
Despite Howls, Leo Apotheker May Be Just What HP Needs Now
Wall Street has been quick to punish Hewlett-Packard after the computing and software giant named former SAP chief Leo Apotheker as its new CEO on Sept. 30. But if SAP's culture says anything about what HP will be like under Apotheker, it may get back to making bets on innovation.
AMD Lowers Forecast: Chipmakers Suffer from Weak Computer Market
Advanced Micro Devices has lowered its third-quarter sales guidance, citing weaker-than-expected demand for laptops in North America and Europe. The news comes after another chip maker, Intel, cut its third-quarter forecast last month.
Apple iPad Sales Projected to Hit 28 Million in 2011
A Wall Street analyst is projecting Apple's iPad sales to reach 28 million in 2011, with low-end notebook computer sales suffering as a result.
Weakness Facing Intel May Be Contagious
Intel cut its guidance for third-quarter revenues, citing weak consumer PC demand. The news signals underlying trends in technology that could be a drag on companies beyond Intel. Keep an eye on companies like Microsoft, HP, Dell and AMD.
HP's Management Crisis: Where Rivals Have Openings
Although HP's competitors have been quiet so far, the Mark Hurd fiasco has to smell like blood in the water around Silicon Valley. Where exactly might HP be most vulnerable? And where might it still hold an edge? Here's a business-by-business rundown.
Blizzard's StarCraft Sequel Takes the Gaming World by Storm
StarCraft II, the sequel to one of the most popular PC games of all time, has been a dozen years in the making. But the wait has paid off. Game maker Blizzard Entertainment says it sold 1.5 million copies in the first 48 hours after launch.